Echeveria Plant Named &#39;TSAECH1704&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Echeveria  hybrid plant named ‘TSAECH1704’ which is characterized by an abundance of succulent foliage with an upright attitude, arranged in basal rosette, moderately to strongly glaucous foliage with epicuticular wax covering the upper and lower leaf surfaces, foliage colored light greyed-green on the upper leaf surface and between blue-green and greyed-green on the lower leaf surface, as well as the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rightsapplication number 2017/1236, filed May 30, 2017, which is hereinincorporated by reference.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus andspecies of the novel variety disclosed herein is Echeveria hybrid.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Echeveria hybriddisclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘TSAECH1704’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘TSAECH1704’ is an intergeneric hybrid seedling selectionresulting from the controlled pollination of an unnamed Echeverialilacina x Echeveria gigantea hybrid plant (not patented), the seedparent, with an unnamed Echeveria pulidonis plant (not patented), thepollen parent. The crossing was made by the inventor in the summer of2013 at a commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. Inthe summer of 2014, one seedling was observed which exhibited uniquegrowth and foliage characteristics. The seedling was isolated forfurther evaluation in order to confirm the distinctness and stability ofthe characteristics first observed. Upon confirmation of distinctnessand stability, ‘TSAECH1704’ was selected for commercialization in thesummer of 2015.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar‘TSAECH1704’, by way of rooting leaf cuttings, was first initiated inthe summer of 2016 at the inventor's commercial greenhouse inHeerhugowaard, the Netherlands. Through four subsequent generations, theunique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true totype.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘TSAECH1704’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘TSAECH1704’. These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘TSAECH1704’ as a new and distinct Echeveria hybridcultivar:

-   -   1. ‘TSAECH1704’ exhibits an abundance of spatulate to obovate        succulent foliage with an upright attitude, arranged in basal        rosette; and    -   2. ‘TSAECH1704’ exhibits moderately to strongly glaucous foliage        with epicuticular wax covering the upper and lower leaf        surfaces; and    -   3. ‘TSAECH1704’ exhibits foliage colored light greyed-green on        the upper leaf surface and between blue-green and greyed-green        on the lower leaf surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of‘TSAECH1704’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, theNetherlands. This plant is approximately 6 months old, shown planted ina 12 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliagearrangement of ‘TSAECH1704.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the adaxial surface of themature foliage ‘TSAECH1704’.

FIG. 4 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the abaxial surface of themature foliage ‘TSAECH1704’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in January of 2018describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 6 months old‘TSAECH1704’ plants grown in 12 cm nursery containers at commercialgreenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. Plants were produced usingconventional greenhouse production protocols for Echeveria plants whichconsisted of minimal irrigation and fertilizer applications, andchemical pest and disease control measures against mealy bug andBotrytis as required. Plants were grown under approximately 50 percentshade after propagation and later exposed to full sun once they began tomature. No photoperiodic treatments or artificial light was given to theplants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘TSAECH1704’has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer from the descriptions set forth herein with variations inenvironmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations arebased on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘TSAECH1704’ and comparisons with the parentplants and closest known comparator are provided below.

-   Plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Succulent perennial with foliage growing in a            non-branched basal rosette.        -   Plant shape.—Flattened globular.        -   Height from soil level to top of foliar plane.—6.1 cm.        -   Plant spread.—Average of 13.1 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate.        -   Plant vigor.—Moderate.        -   Propagation.—Type — Leaf cuttings. Time to initiate rooting            — Approximately 21 days at 18 degrees Celsius. Crop time —            Approximately 35 weeks to produce a marketable plant in a 12            cm container.        -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither            resistance nor susceptibility to typical Echeveria pests and            diseases has been observed.        -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10            to 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius;            moderate tolerance to rain yet drought tolerant once            established; high tolerance to wind.-   Root system:    -   -   General.—Fine, well-branched fibrous roots.-   Stems:    -   -   Branching habit.—Leaves in a non-branching basal rosettes;            no main branches or lateral branches present.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Attachment.—Sessile.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 54 leaves per rosette.        -   Shape.—Thick, succulent leaves which are spatulate to            obovate.        -   Dimensions.—6.3 cm long, 2.5 cm wide, and 0.5 cm thick, on            average.        -   Aspect.—Moderately concave and slightly to moderately curved            upward.        -   Attitude.—Younger foliage near the center of the rosette is            very upright; foliage becoming progressively more relaxed            towards the outer whorl of the rosette yet still generally            upright; average angle of 50 degrees from horizontal.        -   Apex.—Apiculate.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire; not undulated or lobed.        -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the adaxial            surface.—Glabrous, smooth, and matte; moderately to strongly            glaucous.        -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the abaxial            surface.—Glabrous, smooth, and matte; moderately to strongly            glaucous.        -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — In between            yellow-green to greyed-green, nearest to RHS 148B and 191B,            and fading to a lighter shade of greyed-green towards the            base, nearest to RHS 194D; narrowly margined greyed-white,            nearest to RHS 156C; the epicuticular glaucous wax covering            the leaf surface is greyed-green, nearest to RHS 188B.            Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to            RHS 148B, and fading greyed-green towards the base, nearest            the RHS 193B; narrowly margined greyed-white, nearest to RHS            156C; the epicuticular glaucous wax covering the leaf            surface is colored between blue-green and greyed-green,            nearest to RHS 112C and 188B. Mature foliage, adaxial            surface — Greyed-green, nearest to RHS 191A, and fading            lighter towards the base, nearest to RHS 193B; narrowly            margined green-white, nearest to a mixture of RHS 157C and            157D; the epicuticular glaucous wax covering the leaf            surface is greyed-green, nearest to RHS 188B. Mature            foliage, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS            147B, and fading to greyed-green towards the base, nearest            to a mixture of RHS 192A and 192B; narrowly margined            green-white, nearest to a mixture of RHS 157C and 157D; the            epicuticular glaucous wax covering the leaf surface is            colored between blue-green and greyed-green, nearest to RHS            112C and 188B.        -   Venation.—No venation is visible.        -   Petiole.—No petiole; leaves are sessile.-   Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANT AND CLOSEST KNOWN COMPARATOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘TSAECH1704’ differ from the parent, anunnamed Echeveria lilacina x E. gigantea hybrid plant, in the followingcharacteristics described in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Echeveria hybrid Characteristic ‘TSAECH1704’ seed parent.Foliage abundance. More abundant. Less abundant. Foliage width. Narrowerthan the Wider than seed parent. ‘TSAECH1704’. General coloration Lightgrey with a Appearing as light lilac of the foliage. pink hue. suffusedwith white.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘TSAECH1704’ differ from the pollen parent,an unnamed Echeveria pulidonis plant (not patented), in the followingcharacteristics described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Echeveria pulidonis Characteristic ‘TSAECH1704’ pollen parent.Foliage abundance. More abundant. Less abundant. Foliage attitude. Moreupright. Less upright; i.e. more relaxed. General coloration Light greywith Green and of the foliage. a pink hue. margined red.

COMPARISONS WITH THE CLOSEST KNOWN COMPARATOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘TSAECH1704’ differ from the closest knowncommercial comparator, the common form of the species Echeveria pullox(not patented), in the following characteristics described in Table 3below.

TABLE 3 Characteristic ‘TSAECH1704’ Echeveria pullox Foliage width.Narrower than Wider than Echeveria pullox. ‘TSAECH1704’ Foliageabundance. More abundant. Less abundant.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Echeveriahybrid plant named ‘TSAECH1704’, substantially as described andillustrated herein.